Ultimate Workout Machine

Abstract

Workout equipment that detects and adjusts the effective weight automatically, within individual repetitions and between sets. The equipment is able to vary the exercise resistance during the stroke to allow the user to push through a weak spot and gain the maximum benefit of exercising to their full range of motion. The equipment detects weakness preceding muscle failure by the speed at which the user is manipulating the device. Users are instructed to complete each repetition slowly, smoothly and to their fullest extension or flexion and to return to the starting position slowly and under control at all times. The equipment can detect when a user is slowing down and straining at a given level of resistance, or at a particular point in the stroke path, and it will automatically lessen the effective weight to allow the user to push through and complete the stroke. The overall effect of this is to spot the user in the same manner that a personal trainer would provide assistance at the critical point in the exercise stroke. This allows the user to safely workout with heavier weights than they would be able to do alone. An additional feature of the machine is personalized monitoring. A computer added to the equipment can adjust the weight between repetitions to, for example, provide the user with the ability to “stack” at incremental weights. The computer is programmed with the user's personal fitness goals which determine the “success criterion” for the workout. When a user achieves their success criterion, the machine “counts” those repetitions towards the overall fitness goals and adjusts the effective weight between repetitions, and between workout sessions. This exercise equipment allows an individual to increase his or her level of fitness rapidly, safely, with minimal fitness plateaus and without the need for a personal trainer to spot them.

1 . Exercise equipment that has highly variable resistance and is responsive to the speed at which the user performs the repetition. This resistance can be in the form of a traditional weight stack, gravity, bands, springs, servo motors, fans, belts, or any other form of resistance applied to exercise equipment. The ability to vary this resistance can be accomplished by applying a break, a servo motor, by changing the angle of the pull of gravity, or by other means, on top of the base resistance mechanism for the exercise equipment. The equipment is responsive to a slowing in the stroke with a smooth reduction in exercise resistance. The result is the user is “spotted” during the exercise repetition as needed. 
   
   
       2 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 1  wherein said device is computer controlled. 
   
   
       3 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 2  wherein the computer controls a servo or other mechanism and can provide a smooth continuum of increasing or decreasing resistance throughout the exercise stroke. 
   
   
       4 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 2  wherein the computer is programmed to the fitness goals of the user and adjusts the target speed, number of repetitions in a set, and other success criterion accordingly. 
   
   
       5 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 4  wherein the computer is programmed to increment or decrement the effective weight at the end of each successful set of repetitions. 
   
   
       6 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 1  wherein the gravity resistance is varied by changing the angle of the equipment thereby changing the effective weight. 
   
   
       7 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 6  wherein said device is computer controlled. 
   
   
       8 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the computer is programmed to the fitness goals of the user and adjusts the target speed, number of repetitions in a set, and other success criterion accordingly. 
   
   
       9 . Exercise equipment according to  claim 7  wherein the computer is programmed to increment or decrement the effective weight at the end of each successful set of repetitions.